Business sale checklist · NZ
Six short sections to organise the evidence for a business sale. Mark what you know, leave the rest for later and see your preparation summary. No document uploads.
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Useful evidence
Gather final accounts for each year, with signatures where applicable. Ask your accountant to explain changes in presentation.
Watch for: Drafts mixed with final accounts; missing notes.
Suggested help: My accountant.
Useful evidence
Collect the last twelve months and a bridge to the annual accounts.
Watch for: Unexplained differences or missing months.
Suggested help: My accountant.
Useful evidence
List each proposed owner-related or one-off adjustment, its amount, explanation and supporting record.
Watch for: An adjustment without evidence, or an expense added back twice.
Suggested help: My accountant.
Useful evidence
Collect current aged balances and a dated stock report if applicable; flag slow or disputed items.
Watch for: Old balances treated as fully recoverable; undated stock counts.
Suggested help: My accountant.
Useful evidence
Make an agreement register and have the full set reviewed by an appropriate adviser.
Watch for: Unsigned documents, missing variations or missing staff.
Suggested help: My lawyer.
Useful evidence
Obtain a dated payroll report and ask your accountant to check relevant liabilities.
Watch for: Undated reports or unreconciled balances.
Suggested help: My accountant.
Useful evidence
Show current roles, who holds authority and who could cover the owner's work.
Watch for: A title without authority to act.
Suggested help: Me / my team.
Useful evidence
List material contractors and current terms. Ask your adviser to review arrangements where needed.
Watch for: Informal arrangements or documents that do not match practice.
Suggested help: My lawyer.
Useful evidence
Prepare three years by customer where available, grouping related entities consistently.
Watch for: One customer appearing under several names.
Suggested help: My accountant.
Useful evidence
Gather current terms for material customers, starting with those above 10% of revenue. This is an organising threshold, not a legal rule.
Watch for: Missing variations or uncertainty about applicable terms.
Suggested help: My lawyer.
Useful evidence
Gather current agreements and ask your lawyer what a change of owner may require.
Watch for: Expired terms or unreviewed transfer provisions.
Suggested help: My lawyer.
Useful evidence
Record important handshake arrangements for discussion with your lawyer before formalising them.
Watch for: An assumption that an arrangement will continue unchanged.
Suggested help: Me / my team.
Useful evidence
Collect the complete file. Ask your lawyer to identify term, renewal, assignment and consent matters.
Watch for: Missing side letters or renewal notices.
Suggested help: My lawyer.
Useful evidence
If you own the premises, discuss proposed occupancy arrangements with your lawyer and accountant.
Watch for: Assumed rent or tenure with no proposed terms.
Suggested help: My lawyer.
Useful evidence
List relevant council and premises documents; confirm applicability with the appropriate adviser or authority.
Watch for: Treating a checklist as confirmation of compliance.
Suggested help: Another adviser.
Useful evidence
Record the holder, expiry date and responsible person for relevant permissions. Check sale implications with advisers.
Watch for: Expired permissions or unexpected holders.
Suggested help: Another adviser.
Useful evidence
Gather the system, current risk records and evidence of use; seek appropriate professional review.
Watch for: A manual that does not reflect actual operations.
Suggested help: Another adviser.
Useful evidence
Obtain the current schedule, renewal dates and material claims information from your broker.
Watch for: Old schedules or assumed automatic transfers.
Suggested help: Me / my team.
Useful evidence
Gather the constitution if applicable, share register and relevant resolutions for your lawyer.
Watch for: Incomplete ownership records or missing resolutions.
Suggested help: My lawyer.
Useful evidence
Document key processes and record a test in which someone else follows them.
Watch for: A manual that no one has used.
Suggested help: Me / my team.
Useful evidence
List systems, owners and authorised administrators. Keep passwords in your password manager, separate from this tracker and exports.
Watch for: Personal ownership of business accounts or no recoverable administrator access.
Suggested help: Me / my team.
Useful evidence
Record assets, ownership and finance; ask your accountant to reconcile the register.
Watch for: Assets listed that are financed, leased or no longer used.
Suggested help: My accountant.
Useful evidence
Record the opportunity, costs, people, timing, assumptions and an initial test.
Watch for: Potential without costs or supporting evidence.
Suggested help: Me / my team.
Useful evidence
Keep a representative month of work, decisions and relationships. Highlight tasks only you can do today.
Watch for: An idealised role description rather than actual work.
Suggested help: Me / my team.
Your document preparation
These are the statuses you recorded, not a review of the documents. Unchecked items remain unknown. This starting list does not certify compliance or sale readiness.
Using the tool
Start with the records you already have. Open an item for evidence examples, assign responsibility and choose a realistic date. “Ready for review” means the record is available for someone to examine; it is not a certification of its accuracy or suitability.
No. Your advisers and a buyer may need more information or specialist checks. Keep the actual documents in an agreed secure system. Read the seller’s guide to due diligence preparation or the business sale preparation plan to put the checklist in context.